Retired at the age of 34, Dylan Parker packed up his life and bought a bar in Mustang Prairie. Small-town life would be an adjustment, or so he thought, until he met Sadie. As a deeply satisfying friendship grows between them, so does their mutual attraction. Readers who enjoy small-town, friends-to-lovers romances will fall in love with Feels Like Love by N.D. Jackson, a steamy, diverse romance.
Blurb
I just wanted to belongâŚ
Sadie had never belonged anywhere other than on stage. A soulful singer and musician, she left home at a young age and never looked back. No one missed her anyhow. Traveling the country with one no good boyfriend after another for work, Sadie settled in New Orleans until another d-bag boyfriend decided she wasnât enoughâŚand the slutty new bartender was.
She left for Mustang Prairie and the open arms of her half-sister AmeliaâŚor so she thought
I just wanted to protect herâŚ
Dylan Parker retired at the ripe old age of 34. After catching a serial killer whoâd tortured Chicago for a decade, he was ready to turn in his homicide detectiveâs shield.
Needing distance from his high society parents and their social climbing friends he packed up his truck and bought a bar in Mustang Prairie. Getting reacquainted with small town life would be an adjustmentâŚuntil he met a copper haired amazon with a voice like warm honey.
Sadie was everything he wanted; a friend, a devilâs advocate, a sister, and a confidante. Theirs was a deeply satisfying friendship so Sadie and Dylan fought their mutual attraction.
Can Sadie & Dylan admit that their friendship feels more like love?
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Excerpt
Copyright 2025, N.D. Jackson
âEveryone gets sick.â She didnât understand his tone but a moment later it all became clear. âWhat is this Ty? You think I did something to him? Is that what this is all about?â
He opened his mouth to respond but she didnât want to hear it. She didnât want to hear him deny it when they both knew it was the truth. So much for being one of them. She didnât wait for a response, for him to figure out a way to soften the blow and tell her he didnât meant it like that. She just threw her keys at him. âSee for yourself that I didnât kill your friend for whatever reason you think Iâd do such a thing.â She turned and picked up the first box. It needed to go downstairs.
âSadie I didnât mean it like that!â He knew it was no use. She wouldnât listen, so he took the keys and went to see about his friend.
Four boxes later, Karl was gone and Sadie was nearly finished stacking all the boxes downstairs. She would just finish them now. Hopefully, by the time she got home, Ty would be long gone. She wasnât in the mood to see anyone right now but she needed to check on Dylan. He had to be sick to just skip out on a day like this.
She locked up and made the quick drive to Dylanâs house, running up the stairs and through the door calling out to him. She went straight up to his bedroom where he lay in a sweaty heap of sheets and blankets. Ty stood to one side of the room, looking concerned. âDylan! Are you okay?â She felt his face, neck, and chest. He was clammy all over. âHow do you feel?â
âHeâs sick,â Ty said, very unhelpfully.
Sadie glared at him and then turned her back on him. âDylan, tell me what youâre feeling.â She began stripping the covers back and bringing him to a sitting position.
âIâm feeling mighty glad you came to save me.â His smile was crooked and his words were slurred.
She gave him a tight smile while trying to keep them both upright. âOf course I came for you Dylan. Youâre my guy.â
âAlways babe. Now can you make the room stop spinning âcause itâs making me feel sick?â
âNo problem big guy. Iâm all over it.â She wrapped her arms around his waist. âCan you stand?â He tried but he was too wobbly, and her jaws clenched. Ty stood back, no help at all but she said nothing to him. âOkay stand again, but this time put as much of your weight on me as you can.â
This time he stood up but with most of his weight pressed against her. âAlright letâs get you in the bathroom.â They limped to the en suite bathroom and she sat him on the toilet while she ran a bath. âWe need to bring down your temperature,â she told him as she flew back into the bedroom, stripping the sheets off the bed and tossing them down the laundry chute.
âSadie,â he sang off-key over and over. âWhere did my Sadie go?â
âHe doesnât sound too good.â Ty rubbed the back of head, sounding worried.
She inhaled a long breath and let it out slowly, keeping her mouth shut. Eventually, he would leave and she could feel good knowing she hadnât caused any unnecessary drama for Dylan. Checking on the water, she tossed in a few aromatherapy balls to help. âAlright, Dylan we need to get you in there, okay? So I need you to help me. Hang on to me and donât let go.â She removed his boxers, tossed them out the door, and helped guide him down.
âAh, feels good.â The guttural sound of satisfaction vibrated inside the bathroom, echoing off the walls as he sank into the water.
She smiled. Luckily he was too big to possibly drown since Ty was no help at all. She found the bath sponge she bought for him under the sink. Unopened because according to him it was âgirly shitâ. Dipping the sponge in the water, she rubbed is face and chest. âWe need to get you warm and reduce your fever. Stay put.â Inside the bedroom, she breezed past Ty and grabbed the bed spray and clean linens. The window was open, the bedding fresh and now scented. âOkay,â she muttered to herself thinking what else she would need. âFood, meds, juice. Trixie.â She pulled out her phone and dialed. âHey Trix. Dylanâs got some type of bug or something and I need to keep an eye on him. Can you grab fresh fruit, tons of vegetables for soup, and meds to reduce fever, help sleep and clear congestion? Iâm not sure what else he has because heâs pretty incoherent but grab whatever else you think he might need and Iâll pay you back when you get here.â She disconnected and went back to check on Dylan.
âI couldâve gotten that stuff for him,â Ty yelled from the safety of the bedroom.
She said nothing, just helped Dylan quickly wash so she could get him dressed and back into bed. He needed to rest. âStand up for me big guy.â
âYou think Iâm too big?â His words were slurred and she smiled despite her worry.
âNaw, I think youâre just big enough.â
âThatâs what she said,â he snickered.
âVery funny,â she grumbled as she quickly dried him off. He was a big guy and required a towel that was just as big and heavy. âOkay we need clothes.â
âIâm alright like this,â he swayed, wrapping his arm around her waist. âI only stopped sleeping naked because I didnât want to freak you out.â
That was an image she did not need to think about now. Or ever. They walked into the room, him naked and talking nonsense and her trying to keep them both from wiping out on the hardwood floors. âThatâs sweet of you Dyl, but itâs your house so make sure youâre comfortable.â She sat him on the bed and grabbed flannel pants and a t-shirt. âWhile youâre sick though, I have to insist on pajamas.â
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About N.D. Jackson
Wanderer. Lover of books. Romance author. Vegan. Those are just some of the things used to describe me! When Iâm not spinning tales of small town and contemporary romance, I love to travel, cook, and watch/listen to true crime, history & strange documentaries and podcasts. Iâm a native Chicagoan currently living in Europe who has been in love with books for as long as I can remember. My first book, Conflict of Interest, was published in 2014, and Iâve been writing books ever since! Iâm a full-time writer and part-time author, traveler, vegan blogger, and obsessive fan of Dawsonâs Creek.
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